Just back, 4 days DL/CA and a day in Hollywood

[sasywtch]

It's official, I'm getting older. Every muscle was burning after walking around until midnight for 4 days.
Who are we?

Me-57 from Sacramento. I'm a state worker that licenses nurses for the state. I took my kids to DL every year while they were growing up and about every 3-4 years since they left the nest.

Daughter #2 30 She is a state worker who never wanted to be one however, in the short 5 years, she has bypassed me and is at management level. She went every year while growing up and is now got her friends in Oklahoma (college days) hooked on Disney. They've flown out here twice in 4 years and met up in DL.

Meeting up with:
Son #1 from Sacramento who is an elementary school teacher who now has tenure so doesn't get a pink slip every year anymore He now has his own family and goes every other year.

Daughter In law-RN at a hospital in the area. When my first grandchild was born, she declared they would do DL once and then maybe again in 10 years Little did she know, she would be going every 2 years.

Grandson 10- a little timid on rides
Granddaughter 5-dare devil who isn't afraid of Space Mtn or Tower of Terror
Grandson- 1 year he was having a back tooth teething problem oye......not a happy camper

***because of guilt, I should mention I have an older daughter and a younger son who could not go due to work commitments.

Friday the 13th.......
My daughter and I were leaving separately as my son/his family were meeting up with DIL's family later on Saturday in Long Beach. DD and I were suppose to leave early Saturday morning however, someone was dropping her off at the airport at 2:30 on Friday to get the rental car and our work is closer to the airport then home so.....what to do? I took my suitcase to work, she picked me up at 3 and since I work right at the freeway, we were right there at I-5 before rush hour and headed out. I have to admit, I have a problem with Friday the 13th so was a little fearful. It was a pretty uneventful drive except for one semi that thought he'd come into our lane and drive along side us. We had a good 2 inches before he swerved back.

Our plan was to go a few hours and find a motel but we were doing so well, we were over the grapevine at 9 so kept going. Since we were going to Hollywood on Saturday morning, we decided to go on the 405 but had no idea where to stop. We saw a sign that said "Reseda" and I apologize in advance to anyone here from the area but all I knew of Reseda was in the Karate Kid and they didn't show it as a good area. We found a Holiday Inn Express in Van Nuys and hoped for the best. (turned out a-ok). As luck would have it, there was a black cat in our way when pulling into the parking lot. Friday the 13th+black cat.

Valentine's Day
We are up and out and heading to Hollywood. Even though I've been here quite a bit, it's interesting to see the things I see on tv lately. Our first stop was Rodeo Drive and we happened to park by Kyle Richard's dress store and Lisa Vanderpump's Villa Blanca. I don't believe they have ever mentioned on their show that they are only a few doors down from each other. I'm such a dork when it comes to these things.. I embarrass my daughter often. I made her walk by Villa Blanca with me. I wanted to take pictures of the tables/chairs but she wouldn't let me. They were peeling and ripped which surprised me even though I realize there are tablecloths and seat covers later. Just not the pristine look Lisa portrays. Kyle's store was a lot smaller than what is shown on tv.
I'm going to try to post a picture on the next post. From there we drove down Melrose and saw the DASH store, footprints at Graumans and then we were off to DISNEYLAND! (not without a few missteps)

 

[sasywtch]

Villa Blanca Real Housewives of Beverly Hills




Kyle Richard's store a few doors down from Villa Blanca


Bleachers for the Oscar's in front of the Dolby Theater

And one more before DL for those such as my DD that loves Johnny Depp

 

[sasywtch]

Saturday the 14th-we had an hour to return our car to the rental agency in DD. Should be enough time, right? Not when there's an accident. I don't know what we were thinking when we got off the freeway but we went into the parking garage. We got the bright pink sign for our windshield that told the attendant that these people don't know how to read signs so show them the way out (my son did the exact same thing 3 hours later so it must be hereditary-just on his dad's side). We weren't done yet, we made another wrong turn:


Yes that's right, not only did we turn into the guest parking lot, we also went into the cast member one. I think we were tired.

At this point we were really thinking that we both couldn't be this dumb LOL

I have to ask if I'm the only one that while walking or driving you see something mentioned here on the boards and try to talk about it to your family and they have no idea what you're talking about? (or could care less?). I saw the Super 8 behind DL and was telling my daughter it wasn't as close as I thought some here had said it was and it would be a creepy late night walk back, then as we were walking/driving I'd point out ones and said "oh there's the one people said not to stay at, or that's one where a lot of people stay". Sorry to say, no one in my family wanted to hear what I said these boards say. phhhllllfffffffff on them. So anyway, we found the Anaheim Plaza (we've only stayed there twice before and it's not difficult if you go straight and not turn, duh). I know some here are iffy on the AP but we have always found it to be ok and cheap. $89 a night this time. We did have a problem with the shower draining but after awhile, it went down and we just took a cup of water and rinsed the tub. We told them we didn't want maid service so the desk clerk had them bring us 10 towels and a lot of coffee packets which was nice as we didn't ask.



Oops, didn't know this picture was bigger than others and even though it's a little blurry, you can tell the size of the room. There is a chair and table on the side closest to where I'm standing and a desk and chair on the other side.

 

[sasywtch]

This is what my daughter likes best about this place, all the room for her stuff.



Here's another picture of the Anaheim Plaza. We had requested a refrigerator for my medicine and got the microwave also.



Side of the pool area going toward the office



The motel is right across from Tower of Terror

 

[sasywtch]

Just to show the walk to the esplanade. You walk across the street and walk on the sidewalk by the trees on the left. The esplanade entrance/crosswalk is just in front of the silver car in the far right lane. When I took the picture, I could clearly see the crosswalk up there but I can't when the picture is on the computer. It's a quick walk. The one with the construction is the Ramada Maingate.

We had to return the car to DD so off we went and of course, we went to the one on Katella and not the one in DD. We just weren't having great luck. The man keyed us in though but wanted to charge us an extra 90 for being 2 hours late. I just put my head down and told him we were so tired, there had been a wreck and it took us 2 hours on the freeway....so he said he'd pretend we were there a few hours earlier and took the charge off.

Ok, now the vacation really starts. We are on Disney property. First stop, Earl of Sandwich for our free sandwich which was good. (thank you all for the recommendations on the board and telling all about the coupon). We met up with my DD's coworker who has an AP and goes by himself 2-3 times a year. Their desks are next to each other at work and both in DL at the same time. We watched a woman who looked to be about 75-80 making candy apples at Marcelline's. She was enjoying her job. A coworker of mine gave me a ticket a few years ago that she didn't use and then due to medical issues, I couldn't go so I thought I'd go to a ticket booth to see what I could do. They gave me a $250 credit so I only had to pay $40 for a 4 day hopper!!!!!

My DS, DIL and grandkids called and were heading to Earl of Sandwich for their free sandwich so off we went to meet up. They were staying at the Anaheim Plaza for 1 night and then spending the other 4 at the Grand. My DIL has decided if she has to go, she is staying there and only there. (the first night was last minute and they couldn't get a room w/discount so they had to stay by us).

Let me just say this....I love my family but I think there is a reason they leave home at 18 or 21. 5 days 16 hours a day with different personalities makes one wonder how you all lived together for years (cause mom was in charge back then).

This is getting long so I'll post

 

[sasywtch]

Some ramblings as the next 4 days was DL/DCA, mostly good, some snippy tired arguments etc. The next day we ran into my cousin and her kids/grandkids. They were staying at the Anaheim Plaza also. **on the way home, my son/dil ran into another cousin on their dad's side at a rest stop. It's a Small World after all.....that song is still in my head.

Daughter and I tried different places to eat than we normally do.

Son and granddaughter with Oscar

A weird thing happened on Jungle Cruise. My grandson misunderstood when told to go to the front of the boat as there were people already up there so he climbed over. The woman driver of the boat became rude on the microphone in front of everyone. She kept on and on that perhaps they'd like another driver then asked the workers on the dock if they wanted to drive the boat. They had a look of "what are you doing". My dd's friend was doing the slashing of the neck sign of "end it" but she kept on. The worker at the end refused to give my son her name (they couldn't see it under her hair). He did go complain at City Hall later. The next night she was working upstairs in the booth.

I had the chicken dinner for the first time and it was also good.


We had the ice cream bar, dole whip, tons of churros (my dd is happy because she saw the box and now knows who makes them). hot link on a stick which was too spicy for me. We normally eat all hamburgers/pizza while here so this was a little different for us. We also tried the mint julep and the beignets.

We stayed until midnight every night (except I pooped out on Monday after DCA and went back to the motel at 10).

 

[sasywtch]

continued on...........we rode most everything 3-4 times or more. Cars was a first for me. My car won all three times. We used fast pass and baby swap. My DD wanted to see Santa Anita Horse track so off we went before heading home. I had to look at a real map when we got home so I could see how far east we had gone as it's hard to tell with GPS exactly where we had gone. I thought she wanted to drive by but oh no....she wanted to walk it. This after my feet burning from walking DL 16 hours a day for 4 days but soldier on since she walked Rodeo Drive for me days earlier. We left Arcadia around 1:30 and got home at 7:30. Not too bad.

Here's a few random pictures

DD in front of Seabiscuit at Santa Anita Park


The little dare devil leaving space mountain

 

[sasywtch]

A molar teething baby face Perfect time to visit midnight! Son, Daughter and grandson

This pix is exactly what Disneyland means to me when kids are so happy


My grandson and I do not do well on Buzz

 

[sasywtch]

Two of the three grandkids. I have a feeling that my son is going to get his payback for anything he put me through as a teenager when she becomes one. She already has two boyfriends in pre school.

Someone at work noticed the moon. I didn't even see it while taking this picture

Lesson learned, I need to take it easier and maybe go back and rest for 2 hours before closing down the parks. I'm going to try to get my guy friend to go with me the second week of December but we shall see.